 Mohio harnessing his sheep. |
The working title of this project is "A New Zealand Christmas Story", which will be a children's picture book forty pages in length. In the story, Kiwi characters bring Christmas to the world, exposing a hidden but crucial role of New Zealand in the mythology of Santa Claus. The illustrations contain elements of Kiwi art, geography, navigation, Maori astronomy, agriculture, ecology and taxonomy of native species. My plan is to travel to New Zealand for at least a year to research these Kiwi components. Resources I gather there will support an authentic visual and literary representation of New Zealand in the book. During the past year I've fleshed out the arc of the story utilizing a storyboard structure. I'm satisfied that it has the potential to encompass everything I would like to portray. However, I've exhausted the reference materials available here. Information about New Zealand is scarce in American libraries, and the Internet only provides fragmented information and images subject to copyright. |
| Another challenge is to learn to write the manuscript in an authentic sounding Kiwi voice. To do this I'll need to talk to Kiwis about Christmas, and simply hear Kiwis speak in general. I will also be drafting my own zoological and botanical references. I want the background illustrations to be reminiscent of the descriptions rendered by the first European visitors to Aotearoa. Consequently, I need to travel to New Zealand for the natural, artistic, and literary references necessary for illustrations of this scope. The book's format is inspired by the organization of story elements in "The Lost Thing" by Australian author/illustrator Shaun Tan. He layered his illustrations to imply a complex fantasy world beneath the surface layer of traditional story exposition. I aim to use a similar format to portray New Zealand as a setting. The background and border illustrations in my book must form an engaging visual catalogue of natural and cultural New Zealand for both native and foreign readers to enjoy. |  |
 Sketch of Santa's Holiday home |
By May of 2009 I should have a finished mockup of the book, including
the manuscript, and a list of the New Zealand publishers the book has
been presented to. I hope to also have a body of finished illustrations
that can be incorporated into the published book. An advantage of compiling
all these artworks is that the final layouts can be assembled with relative
speed and flexibility once an editor is involved. This is another idea
I adopted from Shaun Tan's creative process. I have been able to consult
with Shaun Tan, via email, about the process of writing/illustrating such
a book, and my project plan is based on his advice. |
This project originated with my two holiday experiences in New Zealand. My parents brought me once when I was 17, and again five years ago when I was 22. Both of my visits were at Christmas, and I was fascinated by the differences between the northern and southern experiences of the holiday. I did the Milford Track, Tongariro Trek, Lost World, and many other things. During these trips I spent as much time in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Hawaii. Those memories faded, but the ones I had of New Zealand became more vivid and enchanting over time. I began to collect pictures and information about the land and people. Studying species endemic to New Zealand became my hobby, and I soon realized I wanted to incorporate all these remarkable things into a single artwork; and that could only be in the format of a children's book.
With so many children on "The Good List" this year, Santa is too busy to vacation at his home in New Zealand. He permits his restless reindeer to go, knowing that his reliable Huntaway dog, Mohio, will return them with his yearly harvest of magical corn before Christmas. When the recalcitrant reindeer refuse to end their holiday, Mohio must salvage Christmas with what's on hand: sheep. Eight reindeer harnesses, magical corn, and some twists of #8 wire turn Mohio's sheep into a team. Together they chauffeur Santa along his delivery route, soaring over the holiday bedecked cities of Warsaw, Salzburg, Moscow, Cuzco, Guanajuato, Ottawa, and Wellington, then home to retrieve the remorseful reindeer. The experience teaches everyone to appreciate their own roles and circumstances. With such a generous spirit, Santa cannot hold a grudge against his reindeer. All is reconciled by Christmas morning; and Santa sets off with reindeer full of renewed enthusiasm. Content to return home, Mohio and his sheep celebrate their new appreciation of family with a traditional New Zealand "picnic on the beach".
Layered illustrations imply a rich world of Santa as an inquisitive traveler, like the original Kiwi settlers (Maori and Pakeha alike), and a connoisseur of "Kiwiana". Varied background illustrations inspire children to ask questions and find new interests. Santa's remarkable timekeeping device gives the book temporal and geographic continuity. His journal pages include Maori astronomical concepts, historical notes, and illustrated botanical/zoological references. Borders of interwoven Maori and European knot work depict relationships of endemic species- a metaphor for Kiwi culture. These supporting illustrations bridge the gap between the Kiwi's summertime Christmas, and the more traditional northern experience.
Restless reindeer at the North Pole. Morepork owl with New Zealand Holly
motif. |
Reindeer put to work in the workshop. Buzzy Bee and World Clock motif. |
 Despite the complication of long-term travel, I've chosen this story to develop because it utilizes my skills, interests and outside perspective. I think I'm uniquely suited to make this contribution to the New Zealand art and culture I love. Everything about this story that gives it merit comes from its references to New Zealand. Without the Kiwi aspects of the story it would be a Christmas book similar to many others. |
 Character sketches of Mohio the NZ Huntaway dog. |
 This project will result in a unique piece of children's literature and art that I hope will appeal to Kiwis of all ages and introduce foreign readers to concepts and themes representative of New Zealand. My personal hope is that publication of this book will establish a new career for me as an author/illustrator of children's books that both represent, and cater to, the New Zealand market. |
 The story has the potential to introduce outsiders to the Kiwi experience of holiday celebration that is traditionally placed in a Northern context, as well as displaying Kiwiana as a novel and charming aspect of Kiwi culture. I also hope that native Kiwi readers will find new appreciation for familiar things. The bordering designs also utilize European, Maori and natural design elements. Combining these styles makes them a metaphor for the merging of cultures taking place in New Zealand today. |